Mauritania al-Qaida suspects denounce bomb attempt

NOUAKCHOTT, Mauritania (AP) - Two young men arrested over a failed bombing attempt in Mauritania's capital say they regret joining an al-Qaida affiliate and urged others to quit the organization.

They appeared on state television Wednesday night and said they belong to the North African franchise of al-Qaida. One said the targets were the ministry of defense, other military buildings and the French embassy. It was unclear if the pair was pressured to make the statements. A message posted on jihadist forums had claimed the attack targeted Mauritania's president.

Security forces in the West African nation stopped the attack Feb. 2 by firing on one of the vehicles, setting off an explosion and killing three suspected terrorists. The assailants abandoned the second car in the desert.